Education for Sustainable Development Curriculum Design Toolkit

This toolkit provides a structured approach to integrating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into higher education curricula. Supported by Advance HE, and developed by Dr Kieran Higgins and Dr Alison Calvert using the CRAFTS methodology, it empowers educators to enhance their modules and programs with sustainability competencies aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Key Features

• Five-Phase Process: Analyse stakeholder needs, map current provision, reflect on opportunities for development, redesign with an ESD focus, and create an action plan for continuous enhancement.
• Practical Tools: Includes templates for stakeholder analysis, module planning, active learning activities, and evaluation.
• Flexible Implementation: Designed for use at both module and programme level.
• Competency-Based: Focuses on developing authentic learning experiences across cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioural domains.

Benefits

• Identify stakeholder sustainability needs

• Map existing ESD elements in your curriculum
• Reflect on opportunities to enhance ESD integration
• Redesign modules with active learning approaches of ESD 
• Create actionable plans for implementation and evaluation

Target Audience
This toolkit is ideal for module coordinators, programme directors, and teaching teams in higher education who want to meaningfully integrate ESD into their curriculum design and delivery.

You can view the toolkit and explore more resources here.